Related Consumer Finance Programs - The following sub-directories of companies offer a wide variety of financial programs to assist you with the management of your finances. Consolidate debt with a consolidation loan or use a debt counseling service or mortgage refinance for help with the consolidation of your charge card debt and other monthly payments.
- Debt Management Credit Counseling - Too many credit bills for you to handle with your budget? Compare different programs and find the one that is the right match for your individual situation.
- Debt Settlement Service - If you have too many credit cards and other small debts and are unable to make your payments, this form of debt negotiation may be right for you.
- Debt Consolidation Help - Learn more on how consolidating your credit card debts can work for you and potential pitfalls that you need to avoid. Also, review a list services that offer to help people lower their bills into fewer payments or even one payment.
Traveling Abroad?
Don't Leave Home Without Making Financial Preparations
Keep currency-exchange costs down. Become familiar with the value of foreign currency compared to that of the U.S. dollar. That way you'll know if that must-have souvenir is going to cost $5 or $50. Also try to do some advance research on the exchange rates if you use your credit card or debit card to make purchases abroad instead of converting U.S. money to foreign currency after you arrive. You may find you'll get more favorable terms using your cards and have less cash to carry and risk losing.
If you need to convert U.S. money abroad, most experts also say you'll get the best deal using a bank or other company that's in the money-exchange business, not a store, restaurant or street vendor. And if a store offers to charge a credit card purchase in U.S. dollars rather than the local currency, be aware that this could be more costly than the credit card issuer's currency exchange rate.
|
Spring 2006 |
Don't Carry Much Cash |
Take a Couple Credit Cards |
Consider Prepaid Debit Cards | |
FDIC Consumer News is published by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FDIC Consumer News is produced quarterly by the FDIC Office of Public Affairs in cooperation with other Divisions and Offices. It is intended to present information in a nontechnical way and is not intended to be a legal interpretation of FDIC or other government regulations and policies. Mention of a product, service or company does not constitute an endorsement.
Find current and past issues of FDIC Consumer News at http://www.fdic.gov/consumernews. Refer to this same index to locate the issues that are specially formatted for being reprinted in any quantity.
To receive an e-mail notice about each new issue of FDIC Consumer News posted on the FDIC Web site, with links to stories, follow instructions posted at www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.
Last updated on 5/09/2006